More than 10% of the territory of Russia is occupied by swamps. We can say that this is one of the main natural indicators of the country. But whether swamps are wealth, and whether draining swamps makes sense, we will consider in this article.
Seems like a total benefit.
Russia is a huge country with a large population. And this population needs to be fed. And if the degree of waterlogging of some territories is more than 30%, where to get fertile soil for crops? This is one of the main goals of such a phenomenon as the drainage of swamps. It is known that swamps cover flat areas, most suitable for meadows and arable land. The same applies to forest areas. In wetlands, the forest practically does not grow, and if it grows, then it is impossible to use this wood, since it is difficult to extract and export it.
The second reason that justifies the drainage of forest swamps is fires. Everyone has already understood how dangerous the burning of peat becomes. A swamp is formed by overgrowing a reservoir. At first, the main vegetation is reeds and reeds, then the water stagnates and becomes covered with duckweed, sedge and cinquefoil begin to grow. The last plant has a powerful root system, and it is not so easy to remove it. Gradually, vegetation covers the entire water surface, and sphagnum mosses or, in other words, peat mosses, form on it. Peat is dry, its moisture content is no more than 2%, and therefore it is easily flammable, but under it there can be many meters of water.
Now imagine that due to someone else's, more often human, negligence, a spark falls on a peat bog, and it lights up. Fire in peat bogs is a terrible phenomenon. Firstly, peat burns in breadth and depth, because at high temperatures the water under it begins to evaporate. Secondly, it is not possible to extinguish such a fire with conventional equipment - it simply will not pass into wetlands. As a result, the process becomes uncontrollable and brings the country millions of dollars in losses.
Drainage of swamps - violation of the ecological balance
However, the drainage of swamps has a negative side. Along with obtaining high-quality fuel, which is peat, expanding fertile lands and forest lands, draining forests leads to adverse environmental consequences.
Wetlands are real reservoirs of clean water. The fact is that the notorious sphagnum mosses are excellent antiseptics, and, therefore, a full-fledged natural filter. Further, the drainage of swamps reduces the supply of small, and, accordingly, large rivers. Fresh water flows into the ocean and becomes salty.
Drainage of the forest leads to the death of vegetation that needs moisture. This primarily applies to conifers, berries - cloudberries, cranberries, etc. Moreover, not only the forest in the vicinity of drained swamps suffers, but also those located tens of kilometers away, since groundwater follows the principle of communicating vessels. The change in the flora of the area is accompanied by a change in the fauna. Fish, birds, invertebrates and animals, whose lives depend on dying vegetation and proximity to a reservoir, die.
Draining the forest will have irreversible consequences if you do not approach this issue wisely. It is necessary to regulate the water regime, leaving reservoirs in the upper reaches of the rivers and swampy areas in the watersheds. It is impossible to drain swamps located on sandy and sandy loamy soils, as well as those on which cranberries, cloudberries, and blueberries grow. It is important to preserve swamps, where rare species of plants, including medicinal ones, and animals grow.
What if we are talking about a suburban area?
However, if we are talking about an ordinary summer cottage in a wetland, which, after a long struggle with the leadership of the district, a lot of money spent and nerves, gets into your use, it’s even ridiculous to talk about the dangers of drainage. It is unlikely that the ecosystem will be significantly damaged if you drain your 6-10 acres. Especially if you do not plan to make cloudberries the main garden crop.
Wetland is a serious problem for summer residents. Before you start landscaping and gardening, the soil will have to be drained. There are several ways to do this.
Dig trenches. If the terrain is such that water cannot naturally leave the site after rain or snow melt, an artificial slope should be created. To do this, in swampy areas, dig several trenches with a slope to one side. Connect these trenches into one and lead out into a ditch or reservoir to collect water. Fill the bottom of the trenches with sand or gravel and lay drainage pipes. The collected water can be used for irrigation or other technical needs. Create a drainage system. When water stagnates on the site due to heavy clay soil, drainage systems are built. To create such a system, special knowledge and accurate calculation will be required. Perhaps the best way out is to turn to professionals in this field. When installing a drainage system on your own, draw up a plan for the location of the drainage pipes. Dig trenches under them, pour sand or gravel to the bottom, lay pipes, connecting them to each other with couplings, cover with sand and gravel, and top with soil. The entire system should have a slope towards the future drainage well, ditch or natural watercourse. Build a decorative pond. The device of an artificial reservoir, a pond is based on one of the above methods of draining the soil. The reservoir should be located in the lowest part of the site, where groundwater and rainwater will drain through the drainage pipes. Having shown a certain amount of imagination, you can create an artificial pond, which will become the highlight of the summer cottage. Depending on the degree of purity of the collected water, it is possible to breed fish in the pond or even swim.
The choice of method for draining the soil depends on many factors - the composition of the soil, the terrain, the depth of groundwater, and, of course, your capabilities. A good result is obtained by combining several options.
Waterlogged lands, swamps and causes of waterlogging
The main tasks of draining swamps, swampy and excessively moistened lands are reduced to creating optimal conditions for the growth of crops. Swamps are areas of land that are constantly or periodically in a state of excessive moisture, and within which the thickness of peat reaches 15–20 cm.
Marshes are subdivided into lowlands, raised bogs and transitional bogs.
Lowland swamps are formed in the floodplains of rivers, near lakes. In such swamps, peat has a high ash content (up to 30% of the dry matter mass). After draining the swamps of this type, peatlands become very valuable agricultural land, since they contain up to 3.5% nitrogen, up to 1.7% phosphorus and up to 0.25 potassium.
Raised bogs are common in watershed areas and are fed by atmospheric precipitation and melt water. Their characteristic vegetation is mosses. Raised bog peat has a low ash content - no more than 3-5% of the mass of dry matter, it is acidic (pH 3.5-5). After drainage and inclusion of raised bogs in agricultural circulation, the application of organic and mineral fertilizers is required.
Marshes of the transitional type occupy an intermediate position between lowland and raised bogs and are formed in areas that are subject to temporary moisture.
The main causes of swamping or excessive moisture of territories are atmospheric precipitation and unregulated surface runoff, which contribute to the accumulation of excess moisture in the territory; surface waters coming from watersheds or rivers (during floods); groundwater close to the surface of the earth. All this, ultimately, creates favorable conditions for the development of swamps or excessively moistened soils, and for the normal development of plants in such areas, drainage measures are required.
If the main cause of waterlogging or excessive soil moisture is surface water, then in this case the tasks of drainage measures are:
1) acceleration and regulation of the flow of these waters with the help of open channels;
2) interception of surface runoff and flood waters by ditches; protection from flood waters is carried out due to the construction of dams.
With excessive moistening of territories due to groundwater, the task of drainage is reduced to:
1) accelerating the outflow of soil and groundwater by lowering groundwater levels with the help of drains;
2) interception of underground flow in elevated areas, flowing "from the side", by trapping ditches or drains.
The designed drainage should provide the required rate of drainage - a decrease in the level of groundwater below the earth's surface by an amount that provides a favorable water-salt regime for the growth of crops throughout the growing season. The rate of drainage depends on the type of crops, climatic conditions and soil structure.
Table 8 shows the average rates of drainage for the cultivation of some agricultural crops in the conditions of central Russia and the Leningrad region.
Table 8
Average rates of drainage of agricultural crops
The drainage network is a complex of engineering structures and devices, with the help of which the required dehumidification rate is achieved. It includes:
1. Fencing network - to intercept and divert surface and groundwater entering the drained area from the outside (upland ditches, dams, etc.)
2. Drainage (regulating) network - for collecting and removing excess surface and ground water from the drained area (a number of open ditches and closed drains)
3. Water supply network - for transporting water from the protective and drainage network outside the drained area to water receivers (drainage and main ditches);
4. Water intakes - for receiving water collected by the drainage network (rivers, lakes, ravines).
The drainage network consists of open ditches or closed drains located at a certain distance and depths, which intercept or absorb excess surface or soil-ground water in the drained area. The depth of the elements of the drainage network and the distance between them must be such that, on the one hand, to ensure the rate of drainage, and on the other hand, not to interfere with the normal operation of agricultural machines.
For drainage of agricultural areas, open or closed horizontal drainage is usually involved.
6.2.2 Dehumidification by open channels
Open drainage or drainage by open channels is the simplest and cheapest way to drain swampy and excessively wet areas. Depending on the purpose, these channels are drainage (serve to lower the groundwater level) and collecting (to accelerate surface runoff).
The location of drainage canals in the drained area depends on the soil, topographic conditions, and the planned use of the drained lands (gardens, orchards, arable land, etc.).
Drainage canals are usually cut at an acute angle to the horizontal of the terrain, and in the case of soil feeding of marshes, at an acute or right angle to the direction of the ground flow. The depth of shallow open ditches (as well as the distance between ditches) is determined by the required drainage rates for certain crops. The depth of ditches in drained meadows and pastures is 0.8–1.0 m, in fields - 1.0–1.2 m, in orchards - 1.2 m. in table 9.
In Russia, there is a lot of experience in draining floodplain swamps and wetlands also by single channels, traversed to a great depth (more than 1.5–2.0 m). Such a ditch ensures the distribution of the drainage action away from it by 500-2000 m and allows you to drain the area of the territory without additional involvement of a small systematic network.
In addition to permanent open ditches, temporary ditches or furrows are also involved in the drainage of excessively moistened areas. They are traversed by special ditchers across the slope with a slope of about 0.001 and are periodically liquidated (buried) - for the period of planting or harvesting.
The disadvantages of open drainage are that they interfere with the normal operation of agricultural machines, occupy useful agricultural areas, and quickly go out of order - as a result of their clogging, silting, overgrowing, etc.
Should swamps be protected?
With this question, conversations on ecology began on January 31 in the primary classes of our gymnasium, which took place on the eve of the Day of Wetland Resources.
First, the guys talked about what a swamp is and what plants, animals and birds live in this aquatic community.
The children learned that since ancient times people have been afraid of swamps. They said that mermen, goblin, kikimors live there. But gradually people realized that the swamps should not be afraid. They stopped believing in "evil spirits", and the swamps revealed their secrets to man.
But we had a question: Are the swamps and their inhabitants beneficial, and what will happen if all the swamps are drained?
During the lesson, from messages and presentations prepared by students, they learned about the beneficial properties of medicinal plants growing in swamps, that many rare animals and birds live there, and this is their only habitat.
The children shared their observations made during a hike with their parents in the forest.
At the end of the lesson, we concluded that swamps are beneficial: they are rich in minerals, supply moisture to the air, this is a natural peat factory, a home for animals, medicinal plants grow there, they soften the climate, which means that if all swamps are drained, then many species of rare animals and plants will disappear, rivers will become shallow, there will be less fresh water on earth, oak forests will dry up.
And we also made an application “My favorite swamp”.
Now we know that swamps, like other natural communities, must be protected and preserved!
/Legenkaya I.V., Moklyakova O.D., Shemekeeva I.A../
On July 10, 1976, a terrible disaster occurred in the small Italian town of Seveso. As a result of an accident at a local chemical plant for the production of trichlorophenol, a huge poisonous cloud containing more than 2 kg escaped into the air. Dioxins are among the most toxic substances on earth. (This amount of dioxins can kill more than 100,000 people). The cause of the accident was a failure in the production process, the pressure and temperature in the reactor rose sharply, the explosion-proof valve worked, and a lethal gas leaked. The leak lasted two or three minutes, the resulting white cloud began to spread with the wind to the southeast and stretched over the city. Then it began to descend and cover the ground in mist. The smallest particles of chemicals fell from the sky like snow, and the air was filled with an acrid chlorine-like smell. Thousands of people were seized by bouts of coughing, nausea, severe pain in the eyes and headache. The plant management considered that there was only a small release of trichlorophenol, which is a million times less toxic than dioxins (no one imagined that they could be contained there).
Plant managers provided a detailed report on the incident only by 12 July. Meanwhile, all this time, unsuspecting people continued to eat vegetables and fruits, as it turned out later, from the area contaminated with dioxins.
The tragic consequences of what happened began to manifest themselves in full measure from July 14. Hundreds of people who received serious poisoning ended up in hospitals. The skin of the victims was covered with eczema, scars and burns, they suffered from vomiting and severe headaches. Pregnant women have experienced an extremely high miscarriage rate. And doctors, relying on information from the company, treated patients for poisoning with trichlorophenol, which is a million times less toxic than dioxins. A mass death of animals began. They received lethal doses of the poison much faster than humans, due to the fact that they drank rainwater and ate grass, which contained high doses of dioxins. On the same day, a meeting of the mayors of the cities of Seveso and nearby Meda was held, at which a plan of priority actions was adopted. The next day, it was decided to burn all the trees, as well as the fruits and vegetables harvested in the contaminated area.
Only 5 days later, a chemical laboratory in Switzerland found that a large amount of dioxins had been released into the atmosphere as a result of a leak. All local doctors were informed about the contamination of the area with dioxins, and a ban was imposed on eating food from the contaminated region.
On July 24, the evacuation of residents from the most contaminated territories began. This area was fenced off with barbed wire and police cordons were set up around it. After that, people in protective overalls entered there to destroy the remaining animals and plants. All vegetation in the most polluted area was burned, in addition to the 25,000 dead animals, another 60,000 were killed. In these areas, a healthy existence of a person is still impossible.
Scientists from the University of Milan conducted a study to study the incidence of cancer in the population of settlements adjacent to the city of Seveso.
More than 36,000 people were under observation, and they had a significantly higher frequency of oncological diseases than the norm. From 1976 to 1986, about 500 people died from cancer in the disaster area. In 1977, 39 cases of congenital deformities were recorded there, which is significantly more than before the disaster.
The largest Hungarian industrial and environmental disaster that occurred on October 4, 2010 at an aluminum plant (Ajkai Timfoldgyar Zrt) near the city of Aika (150 km. to Budapest). An explosion occurred at the plant, destroying the platform that held back the toxic waste container. The result was a leak of 1,100,000 cubic meters of highly alkaline red mud. The territories of the regions of Vash, Veszprem and Gyor-Moson-Sopron were flooded. It is known about 10 victims of the accident (another one is considered missing), in total, more than 140 people received chemical burns and injuries due to the accident. Most of the local flora and fauna died. Toxic waste has entered many local rivers, significantly affecting their ecosystems.
Chronology of events:
October 4 at 12.25 - the destruction of the dam. Leakage of 1.1 million cubic meters of pesticide - red mud.
October 7 - the norm of alkali content in the Danube was exceeded (according to the Hungarian Water Resources Control Service). A threat is created to the entire ecosystem of the Danube.
October 9 - the beginning of the evacuation of the population of the affected city of Kolontar due to the threat of a re-spill of sludge.
October 12 - a decision was made to nationalize the company that owns the plant. All victims will receive compensation. According to monitoring data, the amount of toxic substances in the soil is decreasing today, although their level still remains at a dangerous level.
Perhaps the most important environmental problem of the Nile River is the overpopulation of the countries located on the river. The life of the population of these countries is completely dependent on the Nile. Every year the needs of people are growing. The river provides the people with water and electricity. Many wars in the old days were fought over oil, but in today's world, they can be fought over water. It is the Nile, the great river of the world, which has passed the history of mankind through its streams, that will be at the epicenter of the conflict.
Fresh running water has always fueled life on our planet, but now its value is higher than ever. It is estimated that over the next 20 years, the amount of water available to each person will be reduced by a factor of three. It's about Egypt. Since Egypt is downstream of Ethiopia, the issue of rational use of the Nile's water resources is of a conflict nature. The situation is extremely serious and Egypt has already declared the possibility of war, referring to Ethiopia.
The Nile in Egypt flows almost all the time through the desert, apart from the narrow strips of green irrigated lands bordering on both banks with the river, the entire territory of the country is homeless desert. In the struggle for survival in this desert, the river plays a key role.
Giant dams were built upstream of the Nile in order to meet the needs of electricity, but they also began to delay the flow of the river and ruined the lives of the Egyptian peasants. This country used to have some of the best soil in the world, but the construction of dams has disrupted the process of silt deposition that naturally enriched this land for many thousands of years. Now the fields bring an extremely meager harvest.
As a direct result of modern dam-building methods, agriculture in Egypt has declined for the first time in history. Peasants are forced to abandon the way of life that has supported the nation for many thousands of years. As the river approaches the southernmost point of the Egyptian border, it becomes hard not to notice that this people is rapidly modernizing and that tourism is replacing agriculture as the mainstay of the Egyptian economy, while the old way of life is gradually becoming a thing of the past.
The construction of a giant dam in Ethiopia can solve many of the problems of the population of this poor country, including providing full electricity. With a positive outcome of this project, it is planned to build several more dams, which in turn will reduce the flow of water resources, located downstream of Egypt, by about half.
Undoubtedly, every country wants to use the priceless wealth of the Nile to the maximum. If a compromise is not found, the further fate of the Nile will be sad. Be that as it may, the river acquired such a specific environmental problem due to population growth, its modernization and increased needs.
